streams. The stocking program began in 1875 

 and reached a peak between 1900 and 1904, 

 when more than 10 million fry were released. 

 The program was discontinued in 1916, after 

 stocking was found ineffective to rehabilitate 

 the fishery. 



From 1918 and I960, there were wide fluc- 

 tuations in production. Between 1918 and 1940, 

 production fluctuated from a high of 472,000 

 lb. in 1929 to a low of75, 0001b. in 1939. From 

 1940 to 1954, production was fairly uniform, 

 averaging about 200,000 lb, per year. Since 

 that time, the commercial yield has increased 

 from 158,000 lb. in 1955 to 491,0001b. in I960. 

 The commercial catch in I960 was slightly 

 less than in 1896, when it was 537,000 lb. 



The low production in Georgia during the 

 past half century has been blamed on a variety 

 of conditions. Siltation has altered the char- 

 acter of certain streams, and expansion of 

 towns and increased industrialization have 

 created pollution problems. Effluents from 

 pulp and paper mills established on the Alta- 

 maha River have changed the water quality 

 and affected the taste and odor of shad. 

 Dealers have reported that oil pollutants in 

 the Savannah River cause oily flavor in the 

 fish. Oil and diesel fuel wastes from railroad 

 shops at Waycross were evident in the Satilla 

 River. The biological effects of pollutants on 

 shad runs in Georgia streams have not been 

 determined. 



SHAD FISHERIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA 



The shad catch in South Carolina in 1896 

 was 671,513 lb. Fish were taken primarily in 

 drift gill nets; smaller catches were made in 

 stake gill nets, seines, bow nets, cast nets, 

 fish wheels, and traps. Gill nets took about 

 80 percent of the catch, bow nets 17 percent, 

 and other gears the remainder. 



The gears in the shad fisheries of South 

 Carolina in I960 were stake and set gill net, 

 drift gill net, bow net, submerged trap, rod 

 and reel, and seine. The estimated catch was 

 282,835 lb., of which gill nets took about 87 

 percent. 



Shad were taken in the same areas in 1896 

 and I960, except that in I960 the Sampit River 

 did not support a fishery (fig. 8). The extent 

 of the fisheries by water area is given in 

 tables 16 and 17. The only changes in gear were 

 the introduction of rod-and-reel fishing on the 

 Edisto and Santee Rivers and the discontinuance 

 of fish wheels in the Pee Dee River and cast 

 nets on the Savannah River. In both years, the 

 most productive gear was the gill net. In I960 

 the yardage of gill nets fished was about 57 

 percent less than in 1896; the major change 

 was in drift nets. The catch by gill nets in 

 i960 was about 54 percent less than in 1896, 

 In 1896, 447 bow nets caught 113,650 lb., but 

 in I960, 318 bow nets caught only 25,876 lb. 

 Seines usually were operated in the Edisto 

 and Pee Dee Rivers, but in I960 high water 

 and a late season discouraged operation of 

 this gear. 



FISHERIES BY WATER AREA 



The legal season for taking shad and gear 

 restrictions in I960 varied between water 

 areas. It was originally set from February 1 

 to March 25 for all coastal areas (waters up 

 to a 40-nnile linnit in each river as established 

 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 

 State) and February 1 to April 20 for all in- 

 land waters (above the 40-mile limit), except 



in Horry County where it was February 1 to 

 May 4. The season subsequently was extended 

 for 2 wk. in each area. The legal fishing period 

 was from Tuesday noon to Saturday noon for 

 all waters except the Edisto River, where it 

 was from Wednesday noon to Saturday noon. 

 Mesh size of nets was restricted to 6-in. 

 mesh, except in the Savannah River (minimum 

 legal mesh, 4 in.) and the Santee and Cooper 

 Rivers (minimum mesh, 5 1/2 in.). Mesh size 

 of bow nets was not restricted. Legal season 

 for fishing with hook and line, rod and reel, 

 and bow nets was February 1 to May 1, and the 

 daily creel limit for sport fishing was eight 

 shad. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers re- 

 quired fishermen to obtain a permit to set 

 nets in Bull Creek, Black River, Pee Dee 

 River, Winyah Bay, Edisto River, Waccamaw 

 River, and Santee River because of naviga- 

 tional difficulties. 



During the I960 shad season the coastal 

 area produced 162,000 lb. and the inland area 

 120,835 lb. The catch by gear and annount of 

 gear by water area are discussed in the follow- 

 ing sections. The Savannah River fishery is 

 described in the Shad Fisheries of Georgia, 



Combahee and Ashepoo Rivers 



The Combahee and Ashepoo Rivers are both 

 within South Carolina. The Combahee rises in 

 Aiken County and flows 110 miles to the sea. 

 Above the entrance of Jackson Branch, 40 miles 

 from the mouth, the Combahee is called the 

 Salkehatchie River. The Ashepoo is entirely 

 within Colleton County and is 60 miles long. 



In 1896 shad ascended the Connbahee River 

 to Walker and the Ashepoo River to Waterboro, 

 a distance of 85 and 50 miles, respectively. 

 The fisheries were centered at the Charleston 

 and Savannah Railroad bridge crossing. The 

 shad season in these two rivers was January 15 

 to March 31. The catch in the Combahee was 

 14,151 lb. by 907 yd. of stake gill net. The 



27 



